Edward Stark

"Her dad was never as special as her Uncle Howard. He wasn’t as smart, as inventive, or as charming. He didn’t find success as easily, and could never hold any job longer than a month. Then when Howard died in the accident, his drinking only got worse." --Selestra: Book One.

Felicity's father, Edward, was the brother of the famous Howard Stark, and uncle to Tony Stark. He grew up in the shadow of his brother, which made him rebellious towards his family. From a young age, Edward drank a lot and started doing drugs when he was in high school. His parents cut him off from the family fortune when he turned 18, and they completely gave up on him-- except for his brother, Howard. Howard knew that there was still some good in his brother, and wasn't going to stop until his brother was better. Howard sent Edward to rehab and let him crash in his home whenever he needed. Edward was clean when Tony was born, and was close with the family while Tony was still young. But when his brother started making lots more money and became much more famous, he spiraled again. Edward ran away and started using again. He met his wife, Cynthia, at a bar which was known amongst past alcoholics and addicts as the "point of no return". A year later, they were married, and they found one of the cheapest apartments they could, as Cynthia was the only one working. Edward continued to drink, and occasionally abused Cynthia, but she never left his side. When Cynthia told Edward that she was pregnant, he left for the weekend and sought out his brother. He ended up on his brother's front door, crying, and begging for forgiveness and advice. Howard couldn't refuse and invited his brother in. Howard told Edward that if he wanted to do right by Cynthia and their child, he had to get clean again and find a job to keep him busy. Edward heeded his brother's advice, got clean again, and got a job. But Cynthia lost the baby, and he was back to his old habits due to mourning their unborn child. That year, Howard and his wife died. Edward, unable to cope with all of the lost, ran away and started dealing. He still sent money to Cynthia, but he didn't see her for seven years. Then, she happened to stumble across him one day and begged him to come home. So he did. He returned home with Cynthia, and they tried for another kid. Two years later, Cynthia was pregnant again. Convinced that this child would end up like the last, Edward did not attempt to get clean again. Then, when their daughter, Felicity, was born, he and Cynthia realized that she had powers. Blaming himself, Edward drowned his sorrows, and took out his anger on Cynthia and Felicity. When Tony came to take Felicity away from Edward and Cynthia, neither of them attempted to stop him-- in fact, they begged him to do it. They were glad to be rid of her. As Edward and Cynthia's marriage fell apart, they continued to stay together.